Final answer:
Lenz's law explains the behavior of inductors in a circuit by opposing changes in current, leading to a delay in current changes. The energy stored in the inductor dissipates at a finite rate, causing the current to decrease exponentially.
Step-by-step explanation:
Current does not rise immediately in a circuit containing inductance because of the property of inductors to oppose changes in current. This is a result of Lenz's law, which states that the change in current changes the magnetic flux, thus inducing an electromotive force (emf) that opposes the change in current. When a switch is flipped and cuts out the battery from the circuit, the inductor opposes the decrease in current by inducing an emf in the same direction as the battery that was driving the current. This means that there is a certain amount of energy, represented as ½LI2, stored in the inductor, which is dissipated at a finite rate, leading to the exponential decay of current.
Furthermore, in an alternating current (AC) circuit, inductive reactance also impedes the flow of current, preventing the current from becoming excessively large within the negligible resistance.